Polishing ......

[Stuck]

For the first time in my life I'm going for a job that requires a resume. What does a 50 year old bloke with a rough spread of tickets (none really relevant to what they do) and skills put down on paper?. There's a job going at a place where my current employer has been contracted to. I've spoken to the feller that I worked under on that site and he's more than happy to give me a push to help me get over the line but I need to put a resume in to HR first. I need this thing to shine.

[roverrescue]

In my experience of sitting on the other side of the desk.

Make sure your cover letter speaks succinctly and specifically to each of the key responsibilities or key attributes within the job description.

Filter/ edit your work history / tickets etc so that it is not four pages long! This is particularly important for someone who has probably performed many roles.

I have no idea what industry you are in but perhaps if you include that a fellow AULRO in that industry management might be happy to give your resume a Mk1 Eyeball and let you know if it hits or misses. The roles I interview don’t get large numbers of applicants but it still only takes a few minutes to establish which ones actually comprehended the Job Description !

Steve

[laney]

Ask your supervisor what you need to put in best of luck.

[loanrangie]

Often wondered this myself, same age and could be in same boat in the near future.

[Bigbjorn]

Often wondered this myself, same age and could be in same boat in the near future.

First, don't put your age or date of birth on your CV. This may prevent illegal age discrimination which is still strong out there even three decades after it was made illegal. Don't go back into ancient history. If you have good work history for no more than ten years back only include this. Note any recognised trade and post trade qualifications you have acquired. They may not be relevant to the job but can be thrown in to demonstrate your ability to learn and acquire new skills. Have copies of the certificates. Try to avoid showing any unexplained gaps in employment (gaol, hospital, etc). Dress appropriately. If a staff or white collar job, wear suit and tie and CLEAN POLISHED shoes. Clean shaven, shortish hair, tats covered. Some employers won't consider anyone with "tough pictures or purple mohawks". So don't present as feral.

Edit - Answer their job specifications in dot point format. Indicate that references are available for their perusal. Take copies to the interview along with copies of trade papers, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees. Don't write a long diatribe about your social and community activities. One sentence saying you are involved in community and club activities is all that is needed. Your submission should ideally be no more than two A4 pages. Paeons of self praise are off putting. No HR person or interviewer wants to read page after page of BS.

[sashadidi]

Just be aware that If you use facebook or other social media be aware employers may look aat your profile for what you do, lots of party photos and or similar etc can be off putting from employers point of view......

[Stuck]

Thanks for the advice fellers. Just to clarify, I'm not sure myself what exactly the job is. I want to get out of where I am and I ran into this bloke and asked if he had any thing going and his reply was fairly positive. I might have to try to track him down and ask what his HR people want to hear.

[loanrangie]

Keep us updated on your progress.

[Tote]

My 2c, get someone that you trust who has experience in a role similar to your would-be boss to have a read of your resume. I find it very difficult to write something that appeals to an employers eye when it is about me, and my job essentially consists of writing technical stories that management can understand.
Good luck,
Regards,
Tote

[JoeFriend]

First, don't put your age or date of birth on your CV. This may prevent illegal age discrimination which is still strong out there even three decades after it was made illegal. Don't go back into ancient history. If you have good work history for no more than ten years back only include this. Note any recognised trade and post trade qualifications you have acquired. They may not be relevant to the job but can be thrown in to demonstrate your ability to learn and acquire new skills. Have copies of the certificates. Try to avoid showing any unexplained gaps in employment (gaol, hospital, etc). Dress appropriately. If a staff or white collar job, wear suit and tie and CLEAN POLISHED shoes. Clean shaven, shortish hair, tats covered. Some employers won't consider anyone with "tough pictures or purple mohawks". So don't present as feral.

Edit - Answer their job specifications in dot point format. Indicate that references are available for their perusal. Take copies to the interview along with copies of trade papers, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees. Don't write a long diatribe about your social and community activities. One sentence saying you are involved in community and club activities is all that is needed. Your submission should ideally be no more than two A4 pages. Paeons of self praise are off putting. No HR person or interviewer wants to read page after page of BS.

I am a recruiter, a lot of this isn't necessary. No offence.

You have someone who can vouch for you and will be your supervisor, so no point in trying to hide anything. Trying to hide stuff is something we recruiters don't like, and is more off putting than anything else.

In most cases there is no need for a cover letter. I have been in recruitment for 11 years and have read less than 20 in total and those 20 were because I was bored.

Keep all your work history on there, just start abbreviating it the further it goes back and the less relevant. Leaving it out won't prevent age discrimination, when they meet you they will figure out pretty quickly that you aren't in your mid 20s (unless you have some crazy great skincare regime, in which case commercialise that).

Gaps in employment are perfectly fine and are expected throughout people's lives so leave them in, but be prepared to explain them during an interview.

Put your quals on your CV, but no need to provide them at the time of application, not at the interview either unless requested. It's good to be organised but most of this would be verified at the employment offer stage. If there is a specific request to include it at application then do so, otherwise just stick to a CV.

Keep the formatting of the CV simple. Text boxes, crazy fonts and other pointless things aren't worth the time. Save it as a word document, and send it that way. Word docs are more easily read by any systems they may use, in this instance not a huge deal because you know the supervisor.

People think that HR are the process police, or want to make it difficult for people. Most of them don't, they are just making sure the bare minimum is done so that they company isn't at risk. Provided you meet the minimum required quals or certs for the role, the content in your CV is less important than how you present it at an interview. Provided this person will vouch for you, then you will likely get an interview, and the CV is really just a document that allows the interviewer to ask you questions.

Good luck, don't agonize over it and make sure you meet the minimum required and don't list every task you do/did in each role. Main points, and any achievements while you were in that role, they are way more important (saved X amount of time, reduced safety incidents by Y, or sorted the coffee room so that you could make a cuppa in half the time, no idea what you do!).

No need to wear a suit and tie to an interview if you aren't corporate, although a suit helps, I am corporate and hardly wear a tie these days.

[DiscoMick]

Some very good advice in the posts above.

As someone who trains people to prepare resumes and talk in interviews I just add a couple of points:

Find out exactly what they want you to do in the job, then say what you can do. Be prepared to talk during the interview about examples of how you have done those things.

Don't claim to be competent at anything unless you are. It's fine to say you have some idea, but you would like the chance to learn more skills.

Remember that you probably have numerous skills and abilities which don't show on your qualifications.
"I can use a computer, type a letter, read and understand a manual, do first-aid, drive a truck, comprehend and participate in a discussion, comprehend and follow instructions, give instructions for another person to follow" etc. These are important skills for getting along in a workplace.

Keep the work history to one page, dot points, in Word, giving basic information such as dates, names of employers and job titles.

A cover letter just tells the recruiter what job is involved and who you are. It should just state the employer's details, your details and the name of the job you are applying for. Include your full name, address, phone and email. No need to state your age, marital status, children etc.

Take a folder containing certificates, other qualifications etc and ask if the interviewer wants to see the originals.

Prepare some questions about the job and the workplace. It shows you are genuinely interested.

Say when you are available to start.

If you are offered a position, ask for a written offer listing employment conditions. If it's not written, then misunderstandings can result.

Good luck!